Endorsements

HRH Charles,The Prince of Wales

“I am delighted to see the success of the initiative called 1001 Inventions, which presents and celebrates the many scientific, technological and humanitarian developments shared by the Islamic world and the West. For while the West struggled in a period often called the “Dark Ages” enormous intellectual and cultural developments were taking place in Muslim Civilization from the seventh century onwards. In science, astronomy, mathematics, algebra (itself an Arabic word), law, history, medicine, pharmacology, optics, agriculture, architecture, theology, music - a “Golden Age” of discovery was flourishing in the Islamic world, which would contribute enormously to the European Renaissance.

It is a matter of great pride that, although global in its outreach and operation, 1001 Inventions is in fact an initiative of a British-based team supported by a network of academics around the world. The 1001 Inventions exhibitions, books and films have achieved significant success in popularizing public understanding of the cultural roots of science and, thereby, encouraging intercultural respect and appreciation.

I can only pray that the whole concept of 1001 Inventions will inspire future generations of scientists and scholars, men and women, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, to build a better world for their fellow man, whatever their creed or colour. I look forward to the further success and expansion of this much-needed initiative."

His Excellency Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Prime Minister of Turkey

"It’s my fond hope that 1001 exhibition, which relays the 1000 year adventure of science and technology in Muslim civilisation, will serve as an example for our youth, for the Muslim world and for humanity. When the exhibition first opened in London, it was visited by nearly half a million people. I believed that it would be so much more meaningful if we brought it to Istanbul during this Holy month of Ramadan. As a result, all tourists, both local and foreign, would have the chance to experience the exhibition while visiting this historic city. Accomplishments displayed within this this exhibition, which were achieved in the fields of medicine, astronomy, mathematics, geometry, chemistry and so on, still manage to amaze us even today. Magnificent inventions like robots, clocks, blood sampling containers, water machines, locks with passwords, thermoses, automated childrens toys, created by the Ottoman scholar Al Jaziri, who was considered to be the Leonardo Da Vinci of the Muslim world, still manage to generate astonishment and admiration in the modern world.

It is our common responsibility to ensure we do not forget, or let be forgotten, those precious scientists who came from Muslim civilisation, who led a silent life. In that sense, the 1001 Inventions exhibition is a very important and propitious task. The exhibition will will be moving on to New York (after Istanbul), and will then be travelling all around the world. I believe that new museums should be built in our cities and university campuses dedicated to the scientific achievements of Muslim civilisation. Such efforts will help increase self-confidence in the young generation of the Muslim world. I also believe it will help demonstrate that science and technology progress is a cornerstone of our civilisation’s progress. Finally, I would like to congratulate each and every individual who was involved in creating this exhibition."

The Hon. Hillary Clinton,67th US Secretary of State

1001 Inventions celebrates a millennium of science and innovation in the Muslim world, and this exhibition honors remarkable accomplishments throughout history. From a woman who founded a University in the ninth century, to a thirteenth century inventor and mechanical engineer, to a surgeon whose writings influenced European medicine for hundreds of years, and so many more.

And of course, we’re looking at the impact of technology in the Muslim world right now as young people throughout the Middle East and North Africa find new ways to use social networking to get organized and to express their aspirations. Connection technologies offer an unprecedented opportunity. A platform through which everyone, from farmers to students to entrepreneurs, can exchange ideas and hatch plans for the world’s next great invention. But technology does not decide the future. People do.

So as this exhibition shows, the Muslim world has a proud history of innovators. Now is the time to tap in to that legacy to harness the power of science and technology, and to create new pathways to prosperity.

Bettany Hughes,

Renowned British TV Presenter

“I have to say that I am absolutely delighted to support the 1001 Inventions Project. This is a scintillating and original initiative and incredibly timely. If you get a chance to get around the exhibition, it is fabulously organised.

When I was at school, I was always taught that after the fall of the Roman empire we had this extraordinary dark period of a thousand years called the dark ages, and that really troubled me, because how can there be such a time in human history, its very unlikely that people just stopped doing things. And of course, it's a terrible misnomer…. There was no dark ages….

For the thousand years after 500AD there was an extraordinary amount of activity that radiated out from Baghdad and along a glittering crescent along North Africa and into Islamic Spain and the result of some of that activity is what you'll be seeing in this 1001 Inventions exhibition. We've inherited all kinds of things from the Muslim world and Muslim Heritage is all around us today… for instance Arabic numerals that we use everyday and Arabic words like arsenal, almond, mattress, sugar...

One of the things I saw when making a recent documentary for Channel 4, where these beautiful Arabic manuscripts in Fez, Morocco, a number of these dealt with Aristotle, and it was fascinating seeing them, because as you turned these very old dusty pages you see that actually, the work of Aristotle has been advanced by Muslim scholars, and that’s something that is incredibly important to remember… that this was a time when Muslims and Non-Muslims worked together in collaboration. The tragedy of much of Muslim Heritage is that it was burnt in 1492 in Spain, over one million Muslim texts were set into the fires. But with a project like 1001 Inventions, I think we are going to see a phoenix rise from the ashes. “

"The Foundation for Science, Technology and Civilisation has produced a beautiful catalogue 1001 Inventions: How Muslim Civilisation Shaped The World. It reminds us just how the Middle East, North Africa and Al Andalus catalysed many of the trappings of modern life. An immensely useful corrective to our Greco-Roman-Renaissance sense of Western Civilisation The times Summer Books: The Past by Bettany Hughes 03/07/2008

Mr. Adam Hart Davis,Photographer, Writer and TV Science Presenter of the BBC Series

“I am absolutely delighted to be involved in this wonderful exhibition of a 1001 inventions. … {begins a long presentation highlighting a number of important inventions} … That’s what this 1001 inventions exhibition and book are all about. It’s a wonderful exploration and celebration of science. I'm just sad I can't be there for the launch of 1001 inventions. It is a super celebration of Islamic brilliance in the Middle ages. The Arabs were the people that shone with their extraordinary mathematical ability and ability to observe the natural world and make sense of it… and that is what this exhibition and book are all about. So do go and visit, the exhibition is a wonderful example of what those Muslims achieved over a thousand years ago.”

Irina Bakova,

UNESCO Director General

I am pleased to partner with the International Organisation 1001 Inventions to launch the World of Ibn Al-Haytham global campaign, to promote light-science for the benefit of all. A ground-breaking scientist from a thousand years ago, the life and work of Ibn Al-Haytham have never been as relevant as they are today." UNESCO's Director-General Irina Bokova

Over the years 1001 Inventions built a network of strategic global partners and has been endorsed worldwide by heads of states, ministers, politicians, celebrities, directors of museums, business people and many more. Through our global campaigns we collaborated with numerous reputable organisations and our team was honoured to meet with high profile personalities. Below is a selection of images from our photo library: